From childhood spats to shared memories and cherished traditions, there's a unique bond that ties siblings together. But there's one topic that's a perennial cause for discussion: who's the favorite child?



Alex Jensen, a professor from BYU School of Family Life, shed some valuable insights on this playful contest in his recent research, which examines the subtle displays of parental favoritism influenced by birth order, personality, and gender.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-younger-siblings-vs-older-siblings">Younger siblings vs. older siblings</h2>



According to Professor Jensen, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parent-children-relationships-are-key-to-lifelong-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parents</a> generally treat their children differently based on birth order, often having a favorite.



Younger siblings often receive more attention, warmth, and support from parents. This could be because parents have more experience raising children by the time the younger ones arrive, making them more relaxed and affectionate.



On the other hand, older siblings tend to gain more independence as they grow up. Parents are usually stricter with their firstborns but gradually become less controlling over time. 



Since older siblings are the first to experience different stages of life, parents may place higher expectations on them to be responsible and self-sufficient.



In short, younger siblings may get more emotional support, while older ones receive more freedom. This difference in treatment can shape sibling relationships and influence how children perceive fairness in their families.



“It is helpful to take the findings from this study and be aware of the patterns that could be happening in your family,” Jensen said. “When parents are aware, they can make small adjustments that benefit everyone.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-parents-favor-daughters">Do parents favor daughters?</h2>



The researchers found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-who-use-humor-have-better-relationships-with-their-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parents</a> tend to favor daughters slightly more than sons, often seeing them as the favorite child.



This preference appears in different ways, such as how parents interact with their children and how they distribute resources like money, time, and attention. Interestingly, while parents are aware of this bias, children themselves do not seem to notice it.



The researchers analyzed data from 19,469 participants. The results showed that both mothers and fathers are more likely to treat daughters with warmth, engage in more positive interactions with them, and provide them with more resources compared to sons.



This could be due to cultural expectations, emotional closeness, or the perception that daughters require more protection and support.



Even though this favoritism is subtle, it can still influence how children perceive their relationships with their parents and siblings. Understanding these tendencies can help parents ensure fairness and strengthen family bonds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personality-of-favorite-child-matters">Personality of favorite child matters</h2>



It’s not just birth order or gender that matters - personality also influences favoritism. The study revealed that children who are more conscientious and agreeable receive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-parents-use-threats-to-discipline-children-but-its-not-effective-in-the-long-run/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">better treatment</a>, regardless of whether they are the eldest or youngest.



“Most parents probably connect more easily with one child over another, whether that be due to personality, birth order, gender or other things like shared interests,” Jensen said. 



“Watch for those patterns within yourself. Pay attention to how your children react to things that could be perceived as favoritism.”



One surprising finding? Extraversion didn’t seem to impact favoritism. “Americans seem to particularly value extraverted people, but within families it may matter less,” Jensen noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-being-the-favorite-child-matters">Why being the favorite child matters</h2>



Favoritism in families goes beyond small privileges like getting the biggest slice of cake - it can have serious emotional and psychological effects on children.



When a child feels less favored by their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-often-feel-lonely-burnt-out-parenting-demands/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parents</a>, they may struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety, or feelings of rejection. This emotional distress can lead to changes in their behavior, such as acting out, withdrawing socially, or experiencing difficulty in school.



Research suggests that children who perceive themselves as less favored are more likely to develop mental health challenges, including depression and behavioral issues. 



They may seek attention through rebellious actions or disengage from family interactions altogether. This dynamic can also create resentment toward siblings, weakening family relationships over time.



Parents may not always be aware of these effects, but favoritism can leave a lasting impact. 



“Keep an eye out for things that seem unfair. Your children will let you know if they think something is unfair,” Jensen said. “Either they are missing perspective and understanding, or you need to make some changes in your parenting. Make sure you are open to the latter.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-can-parents-do">What can parents do?</h2>



Parents don’t need to feel guilty, but they should be mindful of these patterns. Jensen emphasizes that favoritism isn’t always intentional - it often happens naturally based on personality and circumstances.



“Sometimes parents get so concerned about treating their kids the same that they may overlook individual needs,” he said. 



“We’re not suggesting parents feel guilty; instead, parents can look at this research and use it as encouragement to look at places where they can improve, without going to extremes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strengthening-family-bonds">Strengthening family bonds</h2>



Favoritism can impact sibling relationships, but awareness can help parents make positive changes. The study from <a href="https://familylife.byu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BYU School of Family Life</a> encourages families to focus on connection rather than comparison.



“The simple answers are perhaps the best. Be patient with yourself and with your children,” Jensen said. 



“Spend time together. Do things together that you like to do. Do things together that your children like to do. Work together, serve others together, worship together. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-spend-the-most-time-on-devices-but-nature-offers-a-solution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Relationships</a> take time and time together doing a variety of things will have many positive benefits.”



So, if you’re wondering whether your sibling really is the “golden child,” the answer might not be so simple. It’s not just about being the oldest, the youngest, or even the most charming - it’s about personality, responsibility, and sometimes, just how easy you are to deal with.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-bul0000458.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psychological Bulletin</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">&nbsp;Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">&nbsp;EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/">&nbsp;Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and Earth.com.



-----

Parents treat their children differently - but do they have a favorite?

From childhood spats to shared memories and cherished traditions, there's a unique bond that ties siblings together. But there's one topic that's a perennial cause for discussion: who's the favorite child? Alex Jensen, a professor from BYU School of Family Life, shed some valuable insights on this playful contest in his recent research, which examines the subtle displays of parental favoritism influenced by birth order, personality, and gender. Younger siblings vs. older siblings According to Professor Jensen, parents generally treat their children differently based on birth order,...

A team of neuroscientists at the <a href="http://www.cbm.uam.es/joomla-rl/index.php/en/research/publications/digital-csic/64-about-cbmso">Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center</a> (CBMSO) in Madrid has found new evidence that older adults are still developing new brain cells. Scientists have long debated whether this process, known as neurogenesis, persists after the brain is fully developed. The new research suggests that neurogenesis is still taking place far beyond middle age. 

A study published last year in the journal Nature reported that neurogenesis slows to a halt by adolescence. This contradicts the outcome of previous investigations that found new neurons in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/older-adults-feel-younger-control/">older adults</a>.


However, experts such as CBMSO neuroscientist María Llorens-Martín questioned the methods used in the Nature study. The research was focused on 59 samples of human brain tissue, some of which had been immersed in paraformaldehyde for months or years. 

According to Llorens-Martín, paraformaldehyde forms bonds between the components that make up neurons, turning the cells into a gel. She explained that this makes it difficult to detect the doublecortin (DCX) protein, which is considered by many scientists to be the “gold standard” marker of immature neurons.

According to the study authors, the number of brain cells that test positive for DCX declines sharply after the tissue is immersed for just 48 hours in paraformaldehyde. Llorens-Martín noted that detecting new neurons is “almost impossible” after six months. 


The CBMSO team examined brain tissue samples from adults between the ages of 43 and 87, which had only been preserved in paraformaldehyde for 24 hours. They found that tens of thousands of cells tested positive for DCX in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus. Llorens-Martín said that the neurons showed youthful characteristics under the microscope. They were smooth and plump with simple, undeveloped branches.

In the brain tissue of the youngest donor, there were about 42,000 immature neurons per square millimeter of brain tissue. Compared to this sample, there were 30 percent fewer new neurons in the sample from the oldest donor. The study also revealed that people suffering from Alzheimer’s had 30 percent fewer immature neurons compared to healthy donors of the same age.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nm/">Nature Medicine</a>.
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Older adults can still produce new brain cells, research shows

A team of neuroscientists at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/">UC San Francisco</a> set out to investigate how your brain knows when you have had enough water and allows you to stop feeling thirsty. While the team had found in a previous study that there are sensors in the mouth and throat that assist in this process, the experts felt there were still unanswered questions.

“This fast signal from the mouth and throat appears to track how much you drink and match that to what your body needs,” said study lead author Christopher Zimmerman. “But we also knew that this fast signal couldn't explain everything.”

In particular, the researchers wanted to understand how the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/physical-exercise-strengthen-brain/">brain</a> knows the exact amount of hydration a certain drink will provide. For example, salty sea water does not quench thirst, but would activate many of the same receptors in the mouth and throat as drinking water.

The team implanted optical fibers near the hypothalamus of mice to watch the activity of thirst neurons while the animals drank salty water. As expected, the neurons ceased activity as soon as the thirsty animals took a drink. However, the neurons quickly switched back on, suggesting that some other sensor tested the water and sent out an alert to the brain that it was too salty.

The researchers speculated that these signals were coming from the gut. To investigate, liquid was distributed directly into the stomachs of thirsty mice while the experts observed the activity of the thirst neurons. The experiment revealed that delivering fresh water to the gut deactivated the cells the same way as taking a drink, but the thirst neurons remained active after salt water was delivered.

The findings suggest that the sensors in the mouth and throat signal the brain to temporarily quench thirst to reward animals for taking a drink, but the decision of whether the thirst is quenched is then reviewed by neurons based on a second round of signals from sensors in the gut.

“Interestingly, salt water didn't drive drinking in well-hydrated mice, just in mice who were already thirsty,” said Zimmerman. “This suggests that signals from the gut are needed to quench thirst, but that you actually need to become dehydrated to trigger thirst in the first place.”

Dr. Zachary Knight is a neuroscientist and an associate professor of Physiology at UCSF. 

“This is the first time we've been able to watch in real time as single neurons integrate signals from different parts of the body to control a behavior like drinking,” said Dr. Knight. “This opens the door to studying how all these signals interact, such as how stress or body temperature influences thirst and appetite.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sensors in the gut help the brain determine if we are hydrated

Researchers at UC San Francisco set out to investigate how...

A new study from the <a href="https://healthcare.utah.edu/">University of Utah Health</a> has revealed that pairing music with medications may be an effective way to manage pain. In particular, a mouse model showed that the combination of ibuprofen and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/music-listeners-brainwaves/">music</a> improved pain associated with inflammation by more than 90 percent.

“We know these drugs work without music but they can produce toxicity and adverse effects,” said study senior author Dr. Grzegorz Bulaj. “The holy grail is to combine the right drug with this new paradigm of music exposure, so we do not need as much drug for analgesic effects.”

The researchers tested this new strategy using a model that mimics inflammatory pain and a model that mimics surgical pain. The mice examined in the study were separated into two groups, including a control group that was exposed to ambient noise and a group that listened to three three-hour sessions of Mozart for 21 days.

“Music is like DNA. We had musicians analyze sequences of several Mozart pieces to optimize the playlist,” said Dr. Bulaj. “This was exciting but challenging to integrate these musical analyses into neuropharmacology.”

The study was conducted four times with ibuprofen, cannabidiol, levetiracetam, and the galanin analog NAX 5055. Both groups of mice received one suboptimal dose of each drug for comparison. 

When paired with music, ibuprofen reduced pain responses in the inflammation pain model by 93 percent compared to the drug alone. In addition, music and cannabidiol or NAX 5055 reduced swelling by up to 21 percent in the inflammatory pain model, while music alone reduced pain by 77 percent in the surgical pain model.

“There is emerging evidence that music interventions can alleviate pain when administered either alone or in combination with other therapies,” said study first author Dr. Cameron Metcalf. “I was particularly excited to see reduced swelling in the inflammatory pain model.”

According to Dr. Metcalf, medications currently available to treat inflammation do not show the same effectiveness in such a short amount of time. 

"It is exciting to think of what this might mean for the anti-inflammatory effects of music interventions and where the research may take us next,” said Dr. Metcalf.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology">Frontiers in Neurology</a>.
--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Music can be combined with medication to improve pain relief

A new study from the University of Utah Health has...

Hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and other <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cleaning-products-gain-weight/">cleaning products</a> are marketed for their ability to kill germs and dangerous bacteria. You can find bottles of hand sanitizer in almost any bathroom, office, and doctor’s office. 

Hand sanitizer is even sometimes used to replace soap in situations where hand-washing is not an option. But have you ever wondered what exactly is in hand sanitizer and if overexposure to any of the chemicals and ingredients used in these products can pose a risk to your health? 

Sure, you could start by checking the ingredients list, but unfortunately there’s only so much information you can garner from a label, especially when it comes to chemicals. 

Unlike food products, cleaning products aren’t as thoroughly regulated as we might hope. The <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) only requires manufacturers of cleaning products to list agents that are active disinfectants or of “known concern.” 

If cleaning companies don’t have to put an ingredient on the label, they won’t, most likely in an effort to protect trade secrets. 

In her book, Green Goes With Everything, author Sloan Barnett explains that because of the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976, the EPA can only force a company to prove the safety of a product if the agency has found it poses a health risk. 

Testing the thousands of chemicals that go into our cleaning products would require a massive amount of resources and funding that the EPA just doesn’t have and, under the current Trump administration, isn’t likely to receive.

If the government isn’t even aware of what chemicals pose health risks and manufacturers aren’t stringently testing their products for safety, how are we as consumers supposed to be smart about what chemicals we allow in our homes? 

Take Triclosan, for example. Triclosan is a common antibacterial agent added to antibacterial soaps, body washes, toothpastes, and even cosmetics. In 2016, the<a href="https://www.pharmacytoday.org/article/S1042-0991(17)30602-3/pdf"> Food and Drug Administration </a>announced a ban on 19 active ingredients in soaps and body washes, triclosan among them, because research showed that daily exposure to triclosan in animals decreased thyroid hormone levels. 

While triclosan was banned from antibacterial soaps, the ban did not extend to hand sanitizers, and so you still might be using toothpaste or cosmetics that contain <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/07/well/live/why-your-toothpaste-has-triclosan.html">triclosan</a>. 

“There’s seldom any way for you to know either what kinds of chemicals are in tub cleaner, detergent, shampoo, air freshener, nail polish, makeup, or anything else, or whether any of the ingredients are toxic,” Barnett <a href="https://www.today.com/health/dirty-truth-about-cleaning-products-wbna26903507">wrote</a>. “About the only information we’re commonly given is what the warning label on the product as a whole says — assuming it has one.”

Besides exposure to unknown harmful ingredients, there are other major risk factors that need to be addressed when we look at cleaning products. Many of these toxic and harmful products warn of potential poisoning when used incorrectly or ingested. 

Hand sanitizer is a good example of a product that besides containing harmful ingredients, could also be easily misused by children due to their scents, colors, and easy availability. A good majority of hand sanitizers on the market today are alcohol based. 

“Many caregivers are unaware of the very high alcohol content present in alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which can contain up to 60% to 95% alcohol,” said Cynthia Santos, MD, from CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health. “Young children may inadvertently consume these hand sanitizers because of their appealing scents, like apple, vanilla, and citrus.”

Santos, along with a team of researchers, conducted a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5657893/">study</a> analyzing exposure to alcohol and non-alcohol based hand sanitizers in children 12 and younger and found that exposures can range from intentional or unintentional ingestion, inhalation, or dermal and ocular exposures. 

These exposures come with serious health risks and can cause apnea, irritation, nausea, and vomiting, to name a few. 

Another problem with hand sanitizer aside from toxicity and potential for misuse is what the antibacterial agents do to your body’s natural germ defenses and microbiome. 

One 2018 <a href="http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/10/452/eaar6115">study</a> found that a bacterium resistant to multiple drugs, Enterococcus faecium, has grown more tolerant of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. 

This is a major problem since drug resistance in health care settings where hand sanitizers and disinfectants are widely used and distributed is an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-environment/#.XJlCayhKhPY">increasingly difficult challenge. </a>

“We have to be careful about this new trend towards heavy reliance on alcohol-based hand sanitizers,” Lance Price, a professor at the George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health and the founding director of GW's Antibiotic Resistance Action Center, told <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/08/02/635017716/some-bacteria-are-becoming-more-tolerant-of-hand-sanitizers-study-finds">NPR</a>.  “Soap and water should be our number-one protection,” 

Hand sanitizer and many other cleaning products that tout their germ-fighting abilities can lull consumers into a sort of false sense of security, not realizing the long-term risks of exposure or if the products are doing more harm than good. 

When we rub hand-sanitizer on our hands, we may be unwittingly lowering our own immunity by killing off the colonies of bacteria, both good and bad, that make up our skin’s microbiome. 

“One aspect of hand sanitizers that is usually overlooked is that they can affect bodies’ microbiomes in a few ways, and some of these ways could be bad,” Jonathan Eisen, a microbiologist at the University of California at Davis, told <a href="https://www.popsci.com/is-hand-sanitizer-bad-for-my-microbiome">Popular Science</a>. “While they are killing potentially dangerous microbes, they are also altering the communities of beneficial bacteria on the skin.”

More research is needed to see how hand sanitizers and disinfectants impact the body’s microbiome and ability to stave off germs, but often the simplest solution is best, as nothing beats soap and water to keep your hands clean. 

“Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). “In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.”

Even with soap, you might have products and brands that contain problematic ingredients which is why it’s crucial to always look at the ingredients, do your research if you’re unsure, and consider both your health and the environmental impacts when you purchase cleaning products, cosmetics, and hygiene products. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How clean (and safe) are cleaning products and sanitizers?

Hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and other cleaning products are marketed...

A new study from <a href="https://www.pdx.edu/">Portland State University</a> has revealed that there is greater potential for flooding and extreme heat in East Portland's low-income neighborhoods where there are fewer green spaces. In particular, the research was focused on nuisance flooding, which is the kind of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/historic-flooding-nebraska-iowa/">flooding</a> that shuts down roads, overwhelms storm drains, and flows into basements.

Portland is burdened with extreme heat in the summer months and frequent flooding in the winter and spring, and these conditions will only become worse as a result of climate change. 

The PSU researchers mapped winter flood and summer heat hazard potential and then compared it to sociodemographic and physical variables across individual neighborhoods, including population density, income, and green space.

The study revealed that the areas with the greatest combined hazard potential were poorer communities clustered in East Portland, Southeast Portland, and North Portland. By contrast, the city's wealthier neighborhoods in the western hills, central Northeast, and in the Southwest showed the lowest risk for extreme heat and flooding.

Heejun Chang is a Geography professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at PSU and the director of the Water as an Integrated System and Environment (WISE) research group.

“Not surprisingly, those poorer, low-lying areas on the eastside along Highway 205 are disproportionately exposed to floods and urban heat islands,” said Professor Chang. “Those are the potential target areas where the city needs to pay attention to.”


According to Professor Chang, planting trees is an easy and effective action to ease both urban heat and flooding. 

“If you can better manage land, you can better manage water in the urban areas. During the summer, trees can provide shading and reduce the heat island effect. But during winter, they can intercept the rainwater, hold water in the soils longer, and release water gradually.”

Professor Chang said that in some areas where impervious surface areas are too high, green roofs might be a better alternative. His team will continue to explore ways to expand green infrastructure to reduce the potential for extreme heat and nuisance flooding.

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-disaster-risk-reduction">International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Low-income areas are more vulnerable to severe heat and flooding

A new study from Portland State University has revealed that...

The transition from living at home to going away to college can be a difficult challenge for many students to overcome. Researchers have found that even though 18 is an age that corresponds with many adult milestones such as college, voting, and legally being able to live independently of one’s parents, mentally we don’t <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/adulthood-begin-age-30/#.XJppRShKhPY">fully reach adulthood until our 30s</a>. 

In addition, many mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder are more likely to manifest during a person’s 20s, and college is an especially vulnerable time with many new pressures and expectations. 

Now, a new study has revealed how psychological support at home can go a long way in making the college transition easier for students.

Researchers from the <a href="https://missouri.edu/">University of Missouri</a> examined how parental relationships impacted millennials and found that students who felt like their psychological needs were met and who had a strong sense of autonomy were better able to adjust and thrive to the college environment. 

The results, published in the Journal of Social Psychology, also show that millennials who feel like their parents are overbearing or controlling have a harder time adjusting, feel less supported and cared for, and worry more. 

“Millennial college students are experiencing poorer psychological health than any other previous generation,” said Nathaniel Greene, the leader of the study. “An early indication of student's well-being is their initial worry about college, but understanding what factors might mitigate worry prior to millennials' transition into college is limited in current research.”

For this study, the researchers surveyed 335 students during college orientation in the summer before freshman year. Information on the students, including demographics, history of family education, basic need satisfaction, and how worried each student was at the prospect of going to college, was collected and analyzed for the research. 

After analyzing the survey data, the researchers found that students who felt like their parents supported their needs were less worried. 

It was autonomy that was the biggest predictor of worry in the students, and if a student felt in control and had a strong sense of independence, they reported far less apprehension compared to students who didn’t feel in control. 

“Parents, peers, and educators should support millennial students' basic needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness both before and after the transition to college, as they are essential to their overall psychological health,” said Greene. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Psychological support makes transitioning to college easier, study shows

The transition from living at home to going away to...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.qut.edu.au/">Queensland University of Technology</a> (QUT) has found that one in five women and one in eight men are compromising their sleep to spend more time on their <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/smartphones-sleep-deprivation-kids/">mobile phones</a>. The researchers found a major increase in the amount of this “technoference” in the last 13 years.

The study was focused on the survey responses of more than 700 mobile phone users across Australia between the ages of 18 and 83 in 2018. The questions were replicated from a previous survey that was conducted in 2005. 

When the researchers compared the data between 2005 and 2018, they found significant increases in people blaming their phones for losing sleep, becoming less productive, taking more risks while driving, and even blaming their phones for more aches and pains.

According to study lead author Dr. Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios, the survey results showed 24 percent of women and 15 percent of men could now be classified as “problematic mobile phone users.” Among 18 to 24 year-olds, this number jumps to 40.9 percent.

“When we talk about technoference we're referring to the everyday intrusions and interruptions that people experience due to mobile phones and their usage,” said Dr. Oviedo-Trespalacios. “Our survey found technoference had increased among men and women, across all ages.”

“For example, self-reports relating to loss of sleep and productivity showed that these negative outcomes had significantly increased during the last 13 years. This finding suggests that mobile phones are potentially increasingly affecting aspects of daytime functioning due to lack of sleep and increasing dereliction of responsibilities.”

One positive finding was that fewer people reported having phone bills that they could not afford to pay. Over the 13-year time span, the number of people who found it difficult to switch off their phone remained fairly constant.

Dr. Oviedo-Trespalacios said that the survey results also implied that smartphones are being used as a coping strategy, with one in four women and one in six men reporting that they would rather use their phone than deal with more pressing issues.

The number of smartphone users is expected to exceed 2.5 billion this year worldwide. In Australia alone, about 88 percent of adults now own a smartphone, which is one of the highest smartphone usage rates in the world.

“The speed and depth of smartphone take-up in Australia makes our population particularly vulnerable to some of the negative consequences of high mobile phone use,” said Dr. Oviedo-Trespalacios. 

“Rapid technological innovations over the past few years have led to dramatic changes in today's mobile phone technology - which can improve the quality of life for phone users but also result in some negative outcomes. These include anxiety and, in some cases, engagement in unsafe behaviors with serious health and safety implications such as mobile phone distracted driving.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry">Frontiers in Psychiatry</a>.
--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

‘Technoference’: Our smartphones are costing us sleep and productivity

A new study from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT)...

According to new research from <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a>, female bosses and businesswomen are often perceived as dishonest and untrustworthy by her peers and employees. These findings are published in <a href="https://www.springer.com/psychology/journal/11199">Sex Roles</a>.

“'Highly attractive women can be perceived as dangerous and that matters when we are assessing things like how much we trust them and whether we believe that what they are saying is truthful,” said lead author Leah Sheppard. “It becomes more nuanced when we look at gender. For women there are certain contexts in which they don't seem to benefit from their beauty.”

Based on their experiments and conversations with both female and male study participants, the researchers believe that this distrust of attractive <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/heart-attacks-young-women/">females</a> in traditional “masculine” roles stems from a place of jealousy and sexual insecurity. Furthermore, evolution has made us subconsciously view attractive females as threats and liars who can steal away sexual partners. 

For their experiment, researchers pulled images from a “professional woman” Google search and asked participants to rate their attractiveness. 

Then, researchers asked 198 participants, both male and female, who they would believe more — a female or male boss — who is delivering bad news from the company. Both men and women agreed that they would be less likely to believe an attractive woman. And some participants even said that female bosses are more deserving of being fired compared to male bosses.

However, when researchers told participants to think of a time when they felt most secure in a romantic relationship, meaning their partner was 'faithful and committed to them alone,” their opinions toward attractive female bosses shifted. Being more sexually secure, the attractiveness of a female boss no longer played a role in the perception of being trustworthy.

“[Attractive women are] going to be challenged in terms of building trust,” Sheppard said. “That's not to say that they can't do it. It's just that trust is probably going to form a bit more slowly.'”

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Attractive female bosses are perceived as deceitful “femme fatales”

According to new research from Washington State University, female bosses...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.cogneurosociety.org/">Cognitive Neuroscience Society</a> (CNS) has revealed that the brain waves of babies literally sync with their moms as they are learning from them. The researchers found that the more this neural activity is synchronized, the faster an <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/babies-laughing-friends-strangers/">infant</a> will learn in the social environment. 

“Despite the fact that this is such a powerful learning mechanism, surprisingly little is known about how the human brain performs social learning,” said Victoria Leong of the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a>. “When we connect neurally with others, we are opening ourselves to receiving information and influence from others.”

A collection of research will be presented at this year’s CNS meeting by cognitive neuroscientists who are learning more about the social brain by finding new ways to study it. 

“We're this massively social species and yet the field of neuroscience has focused on the brain in isolation,” said Thalia Wheatley of Dartmouth College. “There's this huge gap in knowledge about how our brains work in concert with other minds.”

Leong’s team investigated how a mother’s emotional response toward new toys affected the baby's interaction with the toys. The infants and mothers were wearing wireless EEG technology as the babies watched their moms react to various objects. 

The mothers would either show a positive emotion about an object by smiling and saying “I like this,” or would frown and say “I don't like this.” Next, the babies selected which object to play with, while the researchers analyzed whether the level of “neural synchrony” between the mother and infant predicted how the infant would respond to the toys. 

“We found that stronger neural synchrony predicted a higher likelihood of social learning by the infant,” said Leong. 

The team noted that social signals such as eye contact were associated with increased synchronization and improved social learning. According to Leong, however, there is still much work to be done to identity exactly what leads to the neural synchrony.


The study findings produced a clear message about mother-infant bonding. “There is no substitute for being physically present and in the moment to connect with an infant.”

The research will be presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society 26th Annual Meeting in San Francisco this week.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Babies learn social cues faster when neural activity syncs with mom

A new study from the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) has...

Earlier this month, a woman was attacked by a jaguar at a zoo in Phoenix, Arizona. According to <a href="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2019/03/13/jaguar-attack-at-zoo-may-reflect-new-normal-of-selfie-culture-expert-says/">Cronkite News</a>, the woman allegedly stepped over a safety barrier to take a selfie next the caged jaguar that then grabbed her arm in its mouth.  Another zoo visitor threw a water bottle through the cage bars to distract the cat long enough for the woman to escape. 

Unfortunately, incidents like this are part of the new normal selfie culture.  People sometimes risk their lives to take the perfect selfie, a trend that seems to draw into question how firm our collective grasp of reality is and what else we’re willing to endanger for image beyond our persons.

Rightfully, the blame for the jaguar attack was assigned to the woman taking the selfie, not the cat.  But it’s not always so fair for the animal, though. We have a history of killing dangerous animals that attack us, even when objectively, the attack is understandable.  Unfortunately, an animal attack of someone taking a selfie isn’t an isolated instance.

In 2015, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/22/travel/yellowstone-woman-bison-attack-selfie/index.html">CNN</a> reported on a woman who turned her back on bison in Yellowstone National Park to take a selfie and was subsequently attacked by the large mammal.  The attack was one of three that resulted from tourists taking photos of bison in the park that season, even though park visitors are warned to keep their distance from the iconic animals.  

The <a href="https://nypost.com/2018/05/04/man-mauled-to-death-by-bear-while-taking-selfie/">New York Post</a> reported last year that a man died while trying to take a selfie with an injured bear he found in the forest when he pulled off the road to urinate.  Another man was crushed to death by a wild elephant while trying to take a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/tourists-close-wildlife/">selfie</a> with the animal. 

Reporting on multiple studies, the <a href="https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/audience/david-whitley/os-ae-selfie-deaths-david-whitley-1005-story.html">Orlando Sentinel</a> says that more people are killed by foolish selfies than by shark or alligator attacks.  From 2011 to 2017, selfies claimed on average 43 lives a year. A huge increase in selfie-caused death occurred from 2014-2015 to 2016-2017, and the growth has been attributed to more selfies and better selfie technology.  

While death for a selfie is always a pointless tragedy, if someone <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/02/yosemite-couple-death-selfie-photography-travel-blog-taft-point">falls off a cliff taking a selfie</a>, they’re the only victim.  When a person is attacked by an animal, the situation is more complicated.

A <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/06/21/do-wild-animals-that-attack-people-need-to-die/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.a2c5bffc8b67">Washington Post</a> piece from 2016 asked the question ‘should wild animals that attack people be killed?’ The report describes a bear attack on a marathon runner.  The runner was injured but not killed by the bear, a mother with small cubs who was likely startled by the runners quick movement. The bear was put down despite only acting in fear to defend her cubs in normal bear fashion.  Under New Mexico State law, where the attack took place, a bear is required to be put down after attacking a person, no matter the circumstances. 

Other instances of a single animal attacking or killing a person involve more than one animal being killed, because which animal is the offender is uncertain.  When a toddler in Florida was killed by an alligator, at least six gators were killed in turn. When a mountain lion pounced on a child in Colorado, <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2016/06/18/officials-find-kill-2-mountain-lions-following-attack-on-boy-near-aspen/">two of the cats were killed</a>.  The <a href="https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-alligator-removals-lane-graves-20171101-story.html">Orlando Sentinel</a> reports that there’s a pattern of wildlife officials killing more alligators after a high profile attack, despite the rarity of human fatalities caused by alligators in general.  More than 300 alligators have been removed from Disney property and killed since 2009. Selfies and other such foolhardy behavior can further deteriorate already fraught relationships between humans and wildlife.  In the end, the wildlife suffer more than the people who engage in risky behavior, including selfie-taking. 

With the costs so high for humans and wildlife alike, we must ask, why do people continue to exhibit such reckless behavior?  A lack of engagement in the real world, a blurring of the lines between social media and the world around us may be to blame.  

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/09/blurred-lines-between-fact-and-fiction-on-social-media-add-up-to-death-in-l-a/?utm_term=.8811cdaf9f4f">The Washington Post</a> reported in 2015 how the misunderstanding of video footage by the LAPD lead to a fatal police shooting.  Media has always distorted views, news, and propaganda, and that shaping of mass perception is nothing new.  What is new is the desire to be watched, to be the media changing behavior patterns, with consequences even for those who aren’t engaged in social media, including animals.  With reality so distorted for those taking selfies as well as those looking at them online, it’s fair to ask whether people are even seeing the animals (or dangerous geographic features) that are photographed.

In The White Tigers of Cincinnati, an essay in David Quammen’s book, Wild Thoughts From Wild Places, the author reflected on wildlife voyeurism before the selfie age in a way even more relevant today,

“People watch the films, they visit the zoos, and by the mesmeric power of these vicarious experiences they come to carelessly believe that the Bengal tiger (or the white rhino, or the giant panda, or the diademed sifaka) is alive and well because they have seen it.  Well I’m sorry but they haven’t seen it.  They’ve seen images; they’ve seen taxidermy on the hoof.  And the wellness, even the aliveness, is too often a theatrical illusion.  Zoos are not fragments of the world of nature, no. They are substitutes.”

If that can be said for zoos, what can be said for wildlife images on social media?  <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/5-times-animals-have-been-killed-in-zoos-due-to-human-encounters-1891162359.html">Ecowatch</a> lists five instances of zoo animals being killed after encounters with humans.  There are many more examples of animals outside of zoos being killed after encounters with humans.  If current trends in selfie taking continue, we should expect more animals will be put down after attacking humans as well.  It seems likely that the selfies that don’t illicit an animal attack will encourage more risky behaviors around dangerous animals, for selfies or simply out of cluelessness.  

It may not matter to some whether they have a real connection with wildness or non-human animals but the consequences go far beyond a simple world view.  For wildlife in captivity or not, a selfie can lead to a deadly encounter with humans. Next time you happen upon an animal, dangerous or not, and your hand instinctively twitches towards that phone, pause.  Consider just dwelling in the moment; keep it for yourself. Some things truly cannot be shared. 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Dying for the perfect selfie: Animal attacks and social media

Earlier this month, a woman was attacked by a jaguar...

While previous research has suggested that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/women-work-life-stress-pregnant/">pregnant women</a> face a greater risk of miscarriage if they work at night, a new study has quantified the number of night shifts that it would actually take to threaten a pregnancy. The researchers determined that working two or more nights in the same week can increase the risk of miscarriage during the following week.

The team linked payroll data from 22,744 pregnant women in Denmark with data from Danish records on births and hospital admissions for miscarriages. They used this analysis to determine how night work may influence the risk of miscarriage between week 4 and week 22 of pregnancy.

The study revealed that after week eight of pregnancy, women who had worked two or more night shifts the previous week had a 32 percent higher risk of miscarriage compared with women who had not worked any night shifts. In addition, the researchers found that the miscarriage risk increased alongside the number of night shifts worked and also along with the number of consecutive night shifts. 

The correlation between night work and elevated miscarriage risk was stronger after week 8 of pregnancy. “This may be explained by the decline in the proportion of chromosomally abnormal fetuses with gestational age, which makes an association with environmental exposure more easily detectable among later miscarriages,” wrote the study authors.

The underlying mechanism responsible for this association is not yet clear, but the light women are exposed to while working the night shift is known to disrupt their circadian rhythm. This decreases the release of melatonin, which is a hormone that is important for maintaining a successful pregnancy.

According to the researchers, the findings have relevance for working pregnant women as well as their employers, physicians, and midwives. “Moreover, the results could have implications for national occupational health regulations.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_and_Environmental_Medicine">Occupational and Environmental Medicine</a>.
--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Working nights increases the risk of miscarriage for pregnant women

While previous research has suggested that pregnant women face a...

More than 57 million households across the United States have <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/bird-feeders-hummingbird-interactions/">bird feeders</a> in their backyards, and Americans spend more than $4 billion on bird food each year. Researchers at <a href="https://vt.edu/">Virginia Tech</a> set out to investigate how the act of feeding birds may influence people, and found that these individuals have a significant impact on conservation. 

Study co-author Ashley Dayer is an assistant professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech.

“Given that so many people are so invested in attracting birds to their backyard, we were interested in what natural changes they observe at their feeders beyond simply more birds,” said Professor Dayer. “In particular, we wanted to know how they respond to their observations. For example, how do they feel if they see sick birds at their feeders, and what actions do they take to address these observations?”

In collaboration with researchers at the University of Georgia, the team analyzed how people respond to natural events at their feeders. The team used data that was collected in a survey of over 1,000 people participating in Project FeederWatch, a program that involves more than 25,000 individuals who observe and document backyard birds.

The analysis revealed that, as a result of feeding, most people noticed natural changes in their backyards such an increase in the number of birds at their feeders. The bird watchers also reported the presence of cats, hawks, or sick birds near the feeders.

“More and more, we see that humans are interacting less with nature and that more of our wildlife are being restricted to areas where there are humans around. Looking at how humans react to and manage wildlife in their own backyards is very important for the future of wildlife conservation and for understanding human well-being as the opportunities for people to interact with wildlife become more restricted to backyard settings,” said Professor Dana Hawley.

Study co-author David Bonter is the director of Citizen Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which is the lab that manages Project FeederWatch.

“From my 17 years working with people who feed birds as part of citizen science projects, I've heard a great deal about their impactful observations at their feeders,” said Bonter. “This study provides important information about the breadth and pattern of these experiences through responses of over 1,000 participants. The findings will help us at Project Feederwatch improve how we work with bird watchers toward our shared goal of bird conservation.”

The researchers were surprised to find that people prioritized natural factors, such as cold weather, more than time and money, when deciding how much to feed birds.

“Feeding wild birds is a deceptively commonplace activity. Yet, it is one of the most intimate, private, and potentially profound forms of human interaction with nature,” said Professor Darryl Jones, who was not involved in the study. “This perceptive study uncovers some of the remarkable depth associated with bird feeding and discerns that people who feed birds are alert to a wide range of additional natural phenomena.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/publications/journals/people-and-nature/">People and Nature</a>.
--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Virginia Tech

People who feed wild birds have an impact on conservation

More than 57 million households across the United States have...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...